Utica Community Schools Isaac Monfort El- ementary

Phone: (586) 797-5700

Attendance Line: (586) 797-5799

Fax: (586) 797-5701

Monfort Elementary School Is A State and National Blue Ribbon School

The Staff Of Monfort Elementary Is Committed To Working Together So That Students Know They Are Valued and Will Learn Our Essential Curriculum.

November 2016

Dear Parents:

To support our students academically in and out of school, administrators, teachers,

and families need to have a shared understanding of their children’s learning and work as

partners to meet their academic and social-emotional needs. The staff at Isaac Monfort

Elementary is committed to communicating regularly and constructively with parents.

Report cards are sent home every quarter and parents are expected to participate in a fall

conference with their child’s homeroom teacher. The report card will summarize the

progress that each child is making toward the Common Core State Standards and it

formalizes the commitment that the child, family, and school make to improve progress over

the coming quarter. At the conference, the homeroom teacher and the family discuss the

report card. The report card will show the level of student work and the overall quality of

performance. Additionally, you will receive a copy of your child’s NWEA Student Progress

Report. This report measures your child’s progress or growth in school in the areas of

mathematics, reading, language and science. The scale used to measure your child’s

progress is called the RIT scale. The RIT scale is an equal-interval scale much like feet and

inches on a yardstick. It is used to chart your child’s academic growth from year to year.

The NWEA Student Progress Report also includes a 150 point Lexile range. It

allows educators and parent to find books, periodicals, and other reading material that

should stimulate a student to new learning while rewarding their current reading abilities. A

Lexile measures syntactic complexity-the number of words per sentence. We know that

longer sentences are more complex and require more short-term memory to process. A

Lexile also measures semantic difficulty- a measure of vocabulary. These measure looks at

frequency of words in a text compared to a body of over 400 million words.

MAP testing is a powerful tool for monitoring student growth over time. For more

information on resources for parents, please refer to the NWEA A Parent’s Guide to MAP

that will be distributed with your child’s report card..

This month, your child’s teacher will also share the goals and plan from your

child’s Leadership Notebook. Leadership notebooks are an important part of our students'

learning. Every child, kindergarten through sixth grade, has a leadership

notebook. These are tools and data used by students to set and help to achieve

academic and personal goals. The notebooks will be sent home on a regular basis for

parents to preview their child's progress. They include things such as data, goals,

leadership and victories. Each grade level's leadership notebooks are different

according to their students' needs.

The conference will help build a strong parent‐teacher relationship. It is the expectation that

all families attend conferences. Please schedule a time for the meeting if you have not

already done so.

Respectfully,

Karen Zimmerman

Please join us for the

second community meeting

on November 16th at 7pm

at Eisenhower High School.

See next page

LIM, Community Meeting 2

Conference information 3

Habit of the Month 4

Family Training-7 Habits 5

7 Habits workshop info 6

School calendar 7

Parents information 8-9

Optimists 9

Goodness Gorilla 10

Lighthouse Team 11

Jeans for Troops 12

Activity Calendar 13

Lunch menu 14-15

Weird Science 16

Holiday Assistance 17

Digital Citizenship 18

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The power of The Leader in Me leadership model lies in the core paradigms from which eve-

rything else flows. Staff members are making leadership development part of the everyday

student experience, including teaching leadership principles in meaningful ways, creating a

culture of shared leadership within the school and helping students take more ownership for

their academic learning. The Leader in Me and its unique paradigms are making a positive

impact on the Isaac Monfort community.

Community Meeting regarding

State Funding for kids being inadequate

The second community meeting on school funding is scheduled

for Wednesday, November 16 at 7 p.m. at the Eisenhower

Performing Arts Center, 6500 25 Mile Road in Shelby Township.

The presentation will provide information on how the

current school funding formula is impacting Utica Community

Schools. More information on this important issue is available

at: funding.uticak12.org or #CostToEducateMyChild.

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CONFERENCE REMINDER DATES

Wednesday, Novemer 9th 5-8 pm

Thursday, November 17th

1-4pm OR 5-8 pm

A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE

Preparation is the key to a successful conference. With so much to talk about in so little time,

here are some suggestions from Parents make the difference for your meeting:

Before the conference:

Make a list of things you should tell your child's teacher, such as your child's favorite sub-

jects, activeities, difficulties in school, medical needs and sensitive issues.

Make a list of things to ask your child's teacher. Ask about grades, homework, attitude, be-

havior, strengths and weaknesses.

Let your child know you are having a conference. Ask her what you and the teacher should dis-

cuss.

During the conference:

Be on time. Teachers have many conferences, and a five-minute delay can throw off their

schedule.

Start the conference on a positive note. You and your child's teacher want what's best for

your child.

Use the lists you prepared of things you want to tell the teacher and questions you want to

ask.

Listen carefully and make notes as the teacher talks about your child's progress.

After the conference:

Talk over the results of the conference with your child.

Stress the good things the teacher said. Talk about the suggestions she made for improve-

ment--and how you plan to help your child carry these out.

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ABSENCE HOT LINE

586-797-5799

THIS NUMBER IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS, 7 DAYS A WEEK.

WHEN CALLING IN YOUR STUDENT, PLEASE USE THE NUMBER LISTED

ABOVE AND DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL OFFICE.

Thank you,

Ms. Dolores and Ms. Angela

Please join us for

7 Habits of Highly Effective Families Training

Where: Monfort Media Center

When: November 30, 2016

December 7, 2016

December 14, 2016

Time: 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.

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7 Habits of Highly Successful Families Workshop.

You are invited to attend our 1st annual 7 Habits of Highly Successful Families workshop. This workshop goes into depth about each of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and applies them directly to what is most dear to all of us-our families. The cost is $20.00 for materials.

About The Program

The 7 Habits of Successful Families workshop is based on Stephen R. Covey’s #1 best sellers The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People® and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families®. This engag-ing family-strengthening program has proven successful with all kinds of families because it us-es a self-discovery and adult-learner approach. Families come away with new ways of thinking, new skills, new attitudes, and the commitment to make their family successful.

Be Proactive® – learn to take charge of the direction of your family

Begin with the End in Mind® – decide what your family stands for

Put First Things First® – never let your family and relationships fall to the wayside

Think Win-Win® – learn how to develop deep and lasting relationships with family members

Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood® – communicate with greater understanding

Synergize® – let differences unite, not divide

Sharpen the Saw® – grow together with your family

The workshop dates are November 30, December 7 and December 14, 2016 from 6:30-8:30pm in the Media Center.

Jennifer Megge

4th Grade Teacher

Monfort Elementary

(586)797-5700 ext. 5716

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September 6 First Day of School Elementary Half Day; Secondary Full Day

October 31 Elementary Half Day; Secondary Full Day

November 8 No School

November 17 Evening Conferences All Students Half Day

November 23 No School Thanksgiving Break Begins

November 28 School Resumes

December 23 No School Winter Break Begins

January 4 School Resumes

January 16 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day No School

January 18 Secondary Exams Elementary Full Day/ Secondary Half Day

January 19 Secondary Exams All Students Half Day

January 20 Secondary Exams All Students Half Day

February 20 Mid-Winter Break Begins No School

February 27 School Resumes

March 31 Elementary Half Day; Secondary Full Day

April 3 Spring Break Begins No School

April 10 School Resumes

April 14 Good Friday No School

May 26 Memorial Day Weekend No School

May 30 School Resumes

June 13 Secondary Exams Elementary Full Day/ Secondary Half Day

June 14 Secondary Exams Elementary Full Day/Secondary Half Day

June 15

Secondary Exams Last Day of School All Students Half Day

UCS

School Calendar

2016-2017

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November is a great month for learning November is a month full of opportunities to learn. Here are just a few:

Nov. 4—King Tut Day. With your child, check out a book or go online to learn more about the

discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb. Nov. 8—Election Day. Talk to your child about rights, responsibilities and why it is important to

vote. Nov. 13-19— American Education Week. Try to visit your child’s school one day this week to

show your support for education. Nov. 16—International Day of Tolerance. Talk with your child about the importance of being

respectful to people who have beliefs that are different from yours. Nov. 20-26—National Family Week. Spend extra time as a family this week. Play games, cook

meals and read together! Nov. 24—American Thanksgiving. Have family members make a list of all the people and things

they are thankful for. Reprinted with permission from the November 2016 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2016 The Parent Insti-

tute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.

Help your child make the most of homework time

There’s no question that students today have more homework than students did in the past. And it

can be a challenge to fit homework into busy family schedules.

But homework is a fact of life. Here are ways you can help your child make the most of the time

she spends on homework:

Offer help, but don’t do the homework for her. Doing homework helps your child learn to be

independent. If you do the work, your child won’t learn that lesson. Stay in touch with the teacher. Be sure to let her teacher know if your child struggles with

homework every day. Ask what you can do at home to help your child. Help your child manage her time. Set a regular time for homework each day. Don’t let home-

work be the last thing your child does before going to bed. Help your child decide which homework to complete first. Some kids prefer to do the easier

work first, while others like to get the toughest work out of the way first. Experiment to see which

works best for your child. Have your child read aloud to you every night. As you are reading together, stop and ask ques-

tions. Remain positive. Your attitude will affect your child.

Reprinted with permission from the November 2016 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2016 The Parent Insti-tute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: “Homework Tips for Parents,” U.S. Department of Education.

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Do you know the hidden value of your child’s homework?

Homework gives your child an opportunity to practice the skills she is learning in school. But did

you know that it also teaches important life lessons?

When your child completes homework on her own, she learns:

Responsibility. Your child learns the importance of fulfilling her obligations. She also learns to

hold herself accountable for her mistakes and successes. Initiative. Homework can help your child learn how to be self-motivated. When she chooses to

complete writing assignments a few days before they are due, she is showing initiative. Perseverance. Most parents want to protect their children from frustration. However, making

your child’s life easier now may make it harder in the future. When your child sticks with a tough

assignment and refuses to give up, she is showing perseverance. Time management. The ability to manage her time in order to get her homework finished is one of

the most valuable skills your child can learn.

Reprinted with permission from the November 2016 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2016 The Parent Insti-

tute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP OPTIMIST CLUB DONATION

Thank you to the Shelby Twp. Optimist Club Members for the following donation:

250 boxes of crayons

100 bottles of Elmers Glue

700 glue sticks

630 notebooks

4600 pencils

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Goodness Gorilla News

Dear Monfort Familes,

Has your child told you they are a Goodness Gorilla? Well, if not let me

give you a little explanation. Everyone at Monfort Elementary can be a

Goodness Gorilla. All it takes is a caring heart. Goodness Gorillas are people

who like to do nice things for other people. They are always looking for ways

to do random acts of kindness and to put a smile on someone else’s face, which

is what we strive for here at Monfort.

Throughout the school year the Goodness Gorilla Lighthouse Team will

come up with monthly activities that allow us to give back to others, and to

help people in need. We will be doing activities that will help out Monfort

families, local families, local organizations, as well as national organizations. If

you would like to participate in this great cause, read on to find out what you

can do to help.

Let’s kick off the 2016-2017 school year right by helping those who help

us! For the next two weeks we will be collecting wrapped candy to send to our

armed forces to support Operation Gratitude. The collection will take place

from October 24th- November 7th. Please drop off your donations into the

boxes on the table located across from Mrs. Zimmerman’s office.

If you have any questions please contact the Monfort office and they will

direct you to Mrs. Suardini or Mrs. Knoth.

A Look Ahead:

Nov. – Jeans For Troops Day Thursday, November 10th

Nov. – Food Drive

Dec. – Toys For Tots

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Parent Lighthouse Team Corner

The mission of the Isaac Monfort School Parent Lighthouse Team is to educate and support

our students, staff, families and community in an effort to implement a synergized Leader in

Me school culture. The Lighthouse Team will engage and educate families by providing

instructional information opportunities to learn about the 7 Habits and the Leader in Me. They

will coordinate the school-wide work needed to achieve and maintain Lighthouse status.

Each month, as we highlight a Habit, an activity will be going home that your child can choose

to do with their family. Students should return the activity to the Family Synergy Box which is

located in the lobby. Every student that returns the activity, will be entered into a drawing at

the end of the month for a special prize.

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JEANS FOR TROOPS DAY

This is just a reminder that on Thursday, November 10th we will be taking part in the nation wide Jeans For Troops event. We are encouraging everyone to bring in $1.00 and wear jeans, and red, white, and blue. The money raised with the event will be donated to the GI Go Fund. This fund helps Veterans to find jobs, go to college, get health care, and find housing. Thank you in advance for supporting our troops!

****Also, starting this week we will be collecting non-perishable food items to be donated to the Macomb Food Warehouse. You can drop your items off in the boxes located in the lobby. We will be collecting these items Monday,

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